Problem Solvers

Sorting through the latest television technology

BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) - When you're shopping for a television, the choices can seem overwhelming.

Consumer Reports' TV experts say it's only going to get more confusing. They've tested the latest TV technologies, the O-LED and Ultra-HD screens and say these first sets, while very pricey, have a lot to offer.

Ultra-HD is a higher-resolution L-C-D set. That means you can get huge screens, like this 84-inch one Consumer Reports' testers checked out. You also get a beautiful picture with lots of detail. But Ultra-HD sets start at four thousand dollars for a decent one - and there's another drawback.

"The problem with Ultra HD is that it needs a whole ecosystem of high definition content that's ultra high definition, sometimes called 4K. And that really doesn't exist right now, so you have a TV with a high resolution and not a lot of content to feed," Jim Wilcox of Consumer Reports said.

O-LED is another impressive new technology. The black levels on this O-LED set are the best testers have ever seen. The brightness levels are also great, but prices are still high. O-LED sets start at about nine thousand dollars.

"We feel that over the course of four or five years it will become a more mainstream product," Jim Wilcox of Consumer Reports said.

Meanwhile, Consumer Reports says plasma TVs continue to improve. For example, Consumer Reports recommends this 55-inch Panasonic plasma. You'll get excellent picture quality for about $1,400. If your TV is in a room that gets a lot of light, an L-C-D television might be the best choice. Consumer Reports recommends the 55-inch LG 55GA7900.

You'll get an excellent picture, very good sound, and a wide viewing angle for $1,500.